Vehicle control device, program update method, and program update system

Abstract

A vehicle control device includes a memory having a first storage area for storing a program related to vehicle control and a second storage area for storing an update program for updating the program, and a controller configured to determine whether a vehicle is in a stop state and start an update process of updating the program stored in the first storage area with the update program stored in the second storage area when the controller determines that the vehicle is in the stop state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control device configured to notify a user of update of a program related to vehicle control, the control device comprising at least one processor configured to:
 in a condition that a vehicle that is controlled in accordance with the program related to the vehicle control is in a stop state, display
 (i) information to request the user for an approval of the vehicle control in accordance with an update program, and 
 (ii) update time that is required from reception of the approval to completion of the update, the update time being derived based on a size of the update program, wherein the information to request and the update time are displayed simultaneously; 
 
 determine whether the at least one processor receives the approval from the user; and 
 in response to receiving the approval from the user, execute a measure to limit execution of engine control of the vehicle and then perform a process to enable the vehicle to execute the vehicle control in accordance with the update program while the vehicle control is restricted by the measure, 
 wherein the measure is executed continuously until the update is completed, regardless of whether the vehicle transitions from the stop state to the non-stop state before the completion of the update. 
 
     
     
       2. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 download the update program from a management server that manages the update program; 
 derive, when the update program is downloaded, an estimated time required for a process to enable the vehicle to control in accordance with the update program; and 
 notify an information terminal that is communicable with the vehicle of at least the estimated time when the vehicle is in the stop state after deriving the estimated time. 
 
     
     
       3. The control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 allow, when the vehicle is in the stop state after deriving the estimated time, the information terminal to notify the request for asking the user for the approval; and 
 start an update process when the information terminal receives the approval. 
 
     
     
       4. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop state is at least a state in which a power supply of the vehicle is off. 
     
     
       5. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop state is at least a state in which a parking brake is activated. 
     
     
       6. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop state is at least a state in which a vehicle speed is zero. 
     
     
       7. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the vehicle is in the stop state, control the notification unit to notify an estimated time required for a process to enable the vehicle to control in accordance with the update program. 
 
     
     
       8. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the notification unit is an information display and is configured to display the request for asking the user for the approval. 
 
     
     
       9. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vehicle control controls a speed of the vehicle, and the measure limits the speed of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 display an update activation preparation completion notification prior to simultaneously displaying the information to request and the update time. 
 
     
     
       11. A program update method for notifying a user of update of a program related to vehicle control, the method being performed by at least one processor, the method comprising:
 in a condition that a vehicle that is controlled in accordance with the program related to the vehicle control is in a stop state, displaying
 (i) information to request the user for an approval of the vehicle control in accordance with an update program, and 
 (ii) update time that is required from reception of the approval to completion of the update, the update time being derived based on a size of the update program, wherein the information to request and the update time are displayed simultaneously; 
 
 determining whether the at least one processor receives the approval from the user; and 
 in response to receiving the approval from the user, executing a measure to limit execution of engine control of the vehicle and then performing a process to enable the vehicle to execute the vehicle control in accordance with the update program while the vehicle control is restricted by the measure, 
 wherein the measure is executed continuously until the update is completed, regardless of whether the vehicle transitions from the stop state to the non-stop state before the completion of the update. 
 
     
     
       12. A program update system configured to notify a user of update of a program related to vehicle control, the program update system comprising at least one processor configured to:
 in a condition that a vehicle that is controlled in accordance with the program related to the vehicle control is in a stop state, display
 (i) information to request the user for an approval of the vehicle control in accordance with an update program, and 
 (ii) update time that is required from reception of the approval to completion of the update, the update time being derived based on a size of the update program, wherein the information to request and the update time are displayed simultaneously; 
 
 determine whether the at least one processor receives the approval from the user; and 
 in response to receiving the approval from the user, execute a measure to limit execution of engine control of the vehicle and then perform a process to enable the vehicle to execute the vehicle control in accordance with the update program while the vehicle control is restricted by the measure, 
 wherein the measure is executed continuously until the update is completed, regardless of whether the vehicle transitions from the stop state to the non-stop state before the completion of the update.